Springing system for power driven vehicles



Nov 29, 1932. H. KRATKY SPRINGING SYSTEM FOR POWER DRIVEN VEHICLES Filed Dec. 5. 1929 H g, KRATKV Snow Jo w 11 Bitter/ Q Q Patented Nov. 9, 1932 PATENT FFICE HANS KRATK Y, OI VIENNA, AUSTRIA SPEING HJG SYSTEM FOR ZPGWER DRIVEN VEHICLE-Q Application filed December '5, 1929, Serial No. 4113M, and in Austria December 5, 1928.

This invention reletes to the springing of power-driven vehicies. In the usuel forms of springing the sprung portion oi: the vehicle. (bodywork end chessis) is supported on 5 springs which ere directly etteched to the two J inven ion by piecing mice. This resilient coupling, which is re sponsihie not only for the springing hut also tor. the supporting and retention of the sprung portion of the vehicie, impiies the creation of n pivot-point located between the two springs and between the sprung end the unspi'ung portions of the vehicle about which the sprung portion cen oscillate on e plane at right angles to the direction of travel,

a When the vehicle is treveiiing in e curve centrifugal force tends to tilt the sprung portion, the centre of gravity of which is located shove the previously mentioned pivot-point, outwords, whereby in the case of a cor the occupents one subjected to the sensationiiung out, or it weii he that the dong-"er oi? being flung out does sctueiiy exist ion the occupenis, The reduction oithe load on. the on the inner side when the one is trev gives rise the portion neceives e j i the Y St. 0 sense nnc res" e the ohove desci ecconupiished in accordance with orce t e at mven-sior oes r01 1 onrpose to the oi the i'esilientcon .Lection between the sprung end the nnsprung portions of the vehicie, which eiso retains the sprung portion in position, shove the centre of gravity of the sprung portion, It is eiso edvisehle to provide hetween the sprung end of heing drawbacks, and

the unsprung portions of the vehicle, apart from the above mentioned resilient connection, en additional connection which is rigid in e horizontal sense in the direction in s direction et right angles to the longitudinot axis of the vehicle In the springing system according to the invention, the centrifugal force acting at the centre of gravity when the vehicle is trevelling in a curve tendsto tilt the part of the sprung portion of the vehicle which is sit uated beneath the resilient' connection and contains the centre oi grevit'y outwards. The result is that the springs on the inner side with regard to the curve ere submitted to in creesed'tension, the bodywork of the one tilts with its upper part inwards, the occupants one relieved of the sensation of being flung out, and smooth end pleasant traveling is ensured The shocks end impacts of-hindrences noting on the wheeis on the inner side of the cnrve imparted, spiiinging A accord to the invention to the which e niost unde n, end. it

se shocks thereiore' shso e sheet on the sprui not Wh1ch3- shows the sp. n of pone ehicle ,ticeiiy in e:

52; is e; perspective view of on exempts of e to n of construction in eccon nice o2, ere tesiiient connections between the sprung portion 1 of the vehicle end the unsprung portion 3, which eiso retain the sprung portion these connections e ere disposed shove the horizontei piene passing through the centre-of gravity 8 of the sprung portion of the vehicle. The resilient connections w may be constructed in any one of meny possible ways In the diagrammatic system shown in Fig. 1 the sprung portion of the vehicle is provided with struts 5 and 6, which are guided. on struts 8 and 9 attached to the unsprung portion of the vehicle and elastically supported as against these latter struts by springing means 10 and 11. The upwardly extending struts 8 and 9 are preferably attached to the axles of the front or rear wheels. The struts 5 and 6 and 8 and 9 are disposed at both sides of the longitudinal mid plane EE of the vehicle.

Apart from the connections a: located above the plane E-E passing through the centre of gravity, the sprung portion 1 is connected with the unsprung portion 3 by means of further connections g, which, as is particularly shown in the example of a form of construction shown in Fig. 2, are rigid in the direction of the length of the vehicle but resilient in the crosswise and vertical directions. The additional connections y are preferably so constructed as to be capable of springing, for

the purpose of absorbing the oscillations of the sprung portion of the vehicle in a crosswise direction.

Assuming the car is travelling to the left in the direction of the arrow p shown in the drawing centrifugal force acts at the centre of gravity 8 in the direction of the arrow g. The turning moment produced by centrifugal force causes the sprung portion of the vehicle, which is retained and sprung by the connections at, to be turned about an imaginary axis A located between the connections in into the position shown in broken lines. Meanwhile the forces acting on the connections a: are in the directions of the arrows 1' and s, that is to say the spring 11 situated on the inner side of the curve is compressed, while the sprmg 10 situated on the outer side of the curve is relieved.

In the example of a form of construction for a springing system'shown in Fig. 2 w again denotes the resilient connections between the sprung and the unsprung portions of the vehicle which also retain the unsprung portion, and y again denotes the additional connections between the aforesaid portions of the vehicle. The upwardly extending struts 8 and 9 on both sides of the vertical mid plane of the vehicle are in this form of construction again provided on the axle 3. 17.

and 18 are the longitudinal members of the chassis and are provided with upwardly extending struts 5 and 6, which .are couple with the struts 8 and 9 by means of the connections w, m in such a manner that they provide guides for the latter struts and at the same time form a resilient or yielding connection. In the form of construction shown in Fig. 2 the sprung portion of-the vehicle hangs on the springs 20 and 21, which form part of the connections m. The sockets 5' and 6' formed on the ends of the struts 5 and 6 embrace the struts 8 and 9 with a certain d portion of the vehicle,

amount of clearance or play, so that the sprung portion of the vehicle is enabled to tilt in response to the influence of centrifugal force.

The additional connections 3 which are rigid in the direction of the length of the vehicle and constructed so as to be resilient in the crosswise and vertical directions, consist, in the form of construction shown, 0 leaf springs 25 and 26, which are attached at one of their ends to any point onthe sprung portion of the vehicle, for instance to the forward projecting ends of the longitudinal side members 17 and 18 of the chassis, and at their other ends to the unsprung portion of the vehicle, for instance to the struts 8 and 9 as in the form of construction shown. The leaf springs 25 and 26 at their inner ends are pivotally mounted on pins 27, which are carried by the upright struts 8 and 9, and at their outer ends the springs are pivotally mounted on pins 28 disposed on the outer ends of the longitudinal side members 17 and 18. This arran ement is such that the springs 25 and 26 are ree to move in vertical planes. In this manner the action of the resilient connections :1: is not impaired.

In the previously described forms of construction the struts provlded on the sprung portion extend in each case upwards. work of the vehicle may of course equally Well extend downwards from above to a connec-- tion a)", which is disposed above the centre of gravity of the sprung portion of the vehicle.

I claim 1. In a spring suspension system for power driven vehicles, resilient connecting means for the body and the running gear of the vehicle, said resilient means being disposed above the horizontal plane passing through the centre of gravity of the body portion of the vehicle and further means connecting the body and the running gear of the vehicle, whereby a rigid connection is efiected in the direction of length of the vehicle and a resilient connection is efiected in a transverse and an upright direction.

2. In a spring suspension system for power driven vehicles, resilient connecting means for the body and the running gear frame of the vehicle, said resilient means being disexamples of posed above the horizontal plane passingv through the centre of gravity of the body and leaf s rings form ing an additional connection etween the body and the running gear frame of the vehicle, the ends of the said leaf springs being pivotally articulated to the body portion and to the running gear frame of the vehicle,

3. In a spring suspension system for power driven vehicles, struts disposed at both sides of the vehicleand attached to the running gear of the vehicle, further struts disposed at both sides of the vehicle and attached to the 130 body portion of of the vehicle and resilient means connecting the said struts attached to the running gear and the body portion respectively, said resilient means being disposed above the horizontal plane assing through the centre of 'gravit of the ody portion of the vehicle and furt er means connecting the body and the running ear of the vehicle, whereby a rigid connection is efi'ected in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and a resilient connection is efi'ected in a transverse and a vertical direction.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

HANS KRATKY. 

